Opponents of Thailand’s junta yesterday launched a campaign to restore democracy and “oppose the military dictatorship and its aristocratic network,” the first sign of organized resistance to the army since it seized power last month.
Jarupong Ruangsuwan, chairman of the Puea Thai Party that led the government ousted by the military, said in an open letter to fellow Thais that the military council had no legitimacy and cast doubt on its promise to transfer power back to civilian authorities at some point.
The military’s aim, he said, was to create “a new puppet structure whose sole purpose will be to re-entrench anti-democratic elements into Thailand’s body politic and to sabotage the development of Thai democracy.”
“Any such structure will need to be removed before a more democratic and civilized society can be built,” he added.
His movement sought “to oppose the military dictatorship and its aristocratic network and establish the people’s complete and unchallenged sovereignty,” the letter said.
The military staged a bloodless coup last month after months of protests had undermined the government of former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.
The protesters wanted to kick out Yingluck and change the electoral system to stop her influential brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, from ever controlling the government again.
Yingluck was removed by the Constitutional Court for abuse of power on May 7, leaving a rump Cabinet that was then ousted in the coup on May 22.
Acting Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow dismissed the resistance group, telling reporters at a press conference in Bangkok that there was “only one legitimate government.”
Most Western countries denounced the coup and demanded a return to civilian rule.
The US and EU have cut cooperation projects and cancelling diplomatic visits.
The junta moved quickly to neutralize resistance inside Thailand after its coup, briefly detaining hundreds of politicians and members of the pro-Thaksin “red shirt” movement and warning them not to work against the military government.
It was unclear how Jarupong’s movement, the Organization of Free Thais for Human Rights and Democracy, would oppose the junta and his letter did not reveal where it was based.
Jakrapob Penkair, a former spokesman for Thaksin, said from Cambodia on June 5 that a movement was being formed outside Thailand to lead a campaign of civil disobedience.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen is close to Thaksin, but his government has said it will not allow a Thai resistance movement to base itself in the country.
Sihasak had been due to brief reporters, alongside EU Ambassador Jesus Miguel Sanz, at the press conference on the measures adopted by the 28-nation bloc, but Sanz left immediately after the two met.
The EU, Thailand’s third largest trade partner and its second-biggest investor, has suspended visits and trade talks and said it would consider “further possible measures.”
“What the EU has done impacts some sectors only. The private sector and tourism should continue as normal,” Sihasak said.
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